TALLINN, Estonia (AP) — Belarusian authorities on Monday declared that the Belarusian service of the German state broadcaster Deutsche Welle is an “extremist” organization and banned all its activities in the country.
The declaration means anyone working with Deutsche Welle producing content for the Belarusian service potentially faces a seven-year prison sentence. Anyone who reads and reposts articles by Deutsche Welle could be found guilty of an administrative or criminal offense.
Peter Limbourg, Deutsche Welle’s director general, criticized the decision, saying the accusations are “unfounded” and do not reflect the true nature of the Belarusian service’s work.
Belarusian authorities have already named 199 organizations as “extremist” and they use the label to suppress dissent in the country. The list includes the Belarusian Service of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty and the independent Belarusian TV channel Belsat, broadcasting in the Belarusian language from the Polish capital Warsaw.
Student fatally shot, suspect detained at Georgia's Kennesaw State University
Cancer patients' travel funding boost: 'Important no one falling through the gap'
Traffic updates: Easter weekend set to begin
Mysterious 'Big Ring' found in space 'must surely be telling us something'
A warrant for Netanyahu’s arrest was requested. But no decision was made about whether to issue it
ancient chinese scroll sells for fifty seven million dollars
Kindergarten teacher in China poisoned classroom porridge in staff quarrel
Death penalty for artist behind Kyoto anime fire, which killed 36
Philippines blames China for loss of giant clams in disputed shoal and urges environmental inquiry
Taiwan eyes first virus case in two months